“For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

As we come to the end of our Advent journey and begin our final preparation for the great feast of Christmas, we are reminded of the marvelous gift that God has bestowed upon us. On that day so many years ago, God touched all of humanity in a glorious way. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, we are reminded that God continues to touch each one of us every moment of our lives. The questions we must ask ourselves are, “Will we feel God’s touch? And if we do, how will we respond?” In this Faith Talk I reflect on the gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent which recounts Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. I marvel at how God touched these women. The way in which they responded to God is a model for the way I desire to live. I hope this Faith Talk will be helpful for you. Merry Christmas!

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Scripture cited: Jeremiah 33:14-16, Luke 3:1-6, Luke 3:10-18, Luke 1:39-45

Other sources cited: St. Francis of Assisi

In this Faith Talk, I reflect on the gospel reading for the Third Sunday of Advent in which John the Baptist calls us to put our faith into action. Just as Christ came into the world for us, we are called to be Christ for others. Christmas is our yearly reminder to recommit ourselves to Immanuel, God with us, by living as Christ taught us to live – in love, peace, mercy, forgiveness, and justice. John’s message helps us do that!

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Scripture cited: Luke 3:4, Luke 3:10-18, Matthew 5:6-9, Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 5:44-45, Matthew 7:1, Matthew 7:12, Matthew 25:40

Other sources cited: St. Teresa of Calcutta

In our society today it is quite tempting to just charge right into Christmas with no preparation whatsoever. But if we do that, we will undoubtedly miss something important. A special event requires special attention and forethought. And that’s exactly what the season of Advent offers us. A time of expectation and wonder. A time of planning and preparation. The liturgical readings guide us through these four weeks by helping us better understand the meaning of this extraordinary season. In this Faith Talk I reflect on the liturgical readings for the First and Second Sundays of Advent, which call us to slow down, wake up, stay alert, and take notice of all that God is doing in our lives. I hope this Faith Talk will be beneficial for you in some way – perhaps inspire and uplift you. Perhaps encourage you to ask new questions and contemplate new possibilities. Perhaps rekindle your faith life and encourage you to take another step forward on your faith journey as we enter this extraordinary season of Advent.

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Scripture cited: Jeremiah 33:14-16, Luke 21:25-28, 34-36, Baruch 5:1-9, Luke 3:1-6

In this Faith Talk I reflect on the importance of gratitude – for all of God’s blessings both in this life and the life to come. As I see it, gratitude was in Jesus’ DNA, so to speak, which means that as Christians, gratitude is also in our DNA. How can we not be grateful for all that God has given and continues to give us? I hope my reflection is helpful for you. Please share it with anyone who might benefit.

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Scripture cited: Luke 17:17-18, John 6:11, Luke 22:17-19, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 118:1

In this Faith Talk, I reflect on death and eternal life. This is certainly not a comfortable thing to do, but it is an important step on our faith journey. It is important when reflecting on death to acknowledge that no one knows definitively what happens to us after death - not the biblical writers, not mystics, bishops, or even the Pope. They are, after all, just humans like you and me - living within the limits of space and time. And so, I offer this reflection to you with the clear admission that it is not grounded in any firsthand knowledge, but in my own beliefs. I hope it will give you a new perspective to contemplate.

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Scripture cited: Mark 12: 24-25, John 6:40, John 11:25, John 14:2-3, Luke 9:28-36

Other sources cited: Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 366, CCC 990)

In this Faith Talk I reflect on the gospel readings for the Twenty Ninth and Thirtieth Sundays in Ordinary Time, which this year fall on October 20th and 27th (Mark 10:35-52). In the first reading, Jesus teaches these important lessons and in the next one he models them. From my perspective, Jesus established a direct correlation between high status or “greatness” if you will - and service. The greatest among us must be the servant of all. I hope this Faith Talk is helpful for you. Please share it with anyone who might benefit.

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Scripture cited: Mark 10:35-45, Mark 10:46-52, Micah 6:8

I believe God is always calling us. That is clear from Scripture and the writings of the saints. But it’s not always easy to distinguish God’s voice in our noisy, hectic and chaotic world. In this Faith Talk I share my thoughts on the notion of discernment. How can I hear God’s voice? How can I be sure it is God calling me and not just some random thought that pops into my head? Or more likely, my own ego calling? And how do I know for sure what God is asking of me? I hope my reflection is helpful for you as you continue on your faith journey.

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A man asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” This is a critical question that I’m sure we would all like to have the answer to. Jesus does indeed answer the question, but he does so by offering us a very peculiar image to ponder. Please join me as I reflect on this important question and try to make sense of his strange notion.

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Scripture Cited: Mark 10:17-27, Philippians 2:6,8

Sources Cited: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. USCCB.org. Daily Readings.